Solutions 11 – wave propagation Antennas and Propagation, Frühjahrssemester 2011

Propagation close to earth

Problem 11.1 :
A mobile phone is located 5 km away from a base station. It uses a vertical l / 4 monopole
antenna with a gain of 2.55 dB to receive cellular radio signals. The free space E-field at
1 km from the transmitter is measured to be 10-3 V/m. The carrier frequency used for this
system is f = 900 MHz.

a) Find the length and effective aperture of the receiving antenna.

b) Find the received power at the mobile using the 2-ray ground reflection model
assuming the height of the transmitting antenna is 50 m, and the receiving antenna is
1.5 m above ground.

a)
At frequency of 900 MHz, the wavelength is l = 0.333 m. The length of antenna
is L = l / 4 = 8.33 cm. The antenna gain can be expressed in terms of the effective
aperture as follows

4pAe
G =
l2

where gain is given as G = 2.55 dB = 1.8 . Thus,

l2 ⋅ G ( 0.333 )2 ⋅ 1.8
Ae = = = 0.0159 m2 .
4p 4p

b)
Transmitter-receiver separation distance is d = 5 km. The field at the receiver end is
a sum of the direct and the reflected rays. Thus, we have

E tot = Ed ⋅ e - jkd ' + Er ⋅ e - jkd '' = Ed ⋅ e - jkd ' + G ⋅ Ed ⋅ e - jkd ''

where Ed and Er are the magnitudes of the direct and reflected field components,
respectively. From here, we can find the magnitude of the total field as

E tot = Ed ⋅ e - jkd ' + G ⋅ Ed ⋅ e- jkd ''

= Ed ⋅ 1 + G ⋅ e - jk (d ''-d ' )
= Ed ⋅ 1 + G ⋅ e - jk D

If d is large compared to hr and ht we have

2hr ht
D = d ''- d ' »
d
Solutions 11 – wave propagation Antennas and Propagation, Frühjahrssemester 2011

Thus, with G = -1

2hr ht
- jk æq ö
E tot = Ed ⋅ 1 + G ⋅ e - jk D
= Ed ⋅ 1 + G ⋅ e d = 2Ed sin çç D ÷÷÷ ,
èç 2 ø÷

where qD = k ⋅ D . Since free-space E-field is reversely proportional to the distance

d we can write

E 0d0
Ed = ,
d

where E 0 is the field at distance d0 = 1 km. Thus,

E tot = 2
E 0d0
d ( )
q
sin D
2

For hr ht  d one can write

E tot = 2
E 0d0
d ( )
q
sin D »
2
2E 0d0 2phr hd
d
⋅
ld
2 ⋅ 10-3 ⋅ 1 ⋅ 1000 2p(50) ⋅ (1.5)
= ⋅
5000 0.333 ⋅ 5000
-6
= 113.1 ⋅ 10 V/m

The received power is

2
E tot 2 ( 113.1 ⋅ 10-6 )
Pr = ⋅ Ae = ⋅ 0.0159 = 2.7 ⋅ 10-13 W
2 ⋅ 120p 240p

In dB: Pr ,dB = -125.68 dBW = -95.68 dBm

Solutions 11 – wave propagation Antennas and Propagation, Frühjahrssemester 2011

Edge diffraction and Fresnel zones

Problem 11.2 :
Compute the diffraction loss for the scenario shown in the figure below. Assume l = 1/ 3 m,
d1 = 1 km, d2 = 1 km, and

a) h = 25 m,
b) h = 0,
c) h = –25 m.

T R
d1 d2

Compare your answers using values from the graph showing the knife-edge diffraction in
function of the diffraction parameter u , as well as the approximate solution given by the
equation on slide 8.68. For each of these cases identify the Fresnel zone within which the tip
of the obstruction lies.

a)
h = 25 m. The Fresnel diffraction parameter is obtained as

2 ( d1 + d2 )
u=h = 2.74
ld1d2

From the figure (p.8.64) the diffraction loss is obtained as 22 dB. Using the numerical
approximation

Ld (dB) = 20 log ( 0.225

u )
= 21.7 dB

The path length difference is given by

h 2 (d1 + d2 ) 2D
D» = 0.625 m , and we get n = = 3.75 .
2d1d2 l

Therefore the tip of the knife edge completely blocks the first three Fresnel zones.

b)
h = 0. From the figure the diffraction loss is obtained as 6 dB. Using the numerical
approximation
Solutions 11 – wave propagation Antennas and Propagation, Frühjahrssemester 2011

Ld (dB) = 20 log ( 0.5e( 0.95u ) ) = 6 dB

With h = 0 m and D = 0 the tip of the knife edge lies in the middle of the first
Fresnel zone.

c)
h = –25 m. The knife edge lies below LOS and u = 2.74 , n = 3.75 . From the figure
a diffraction loss of 1 dB is obtained. Using the numerical approximation
Ld (dB) = 0 dB . The tip of the edge is in the 4th Fresnel zone, leaving the first three
Fresnel zones unobstructed.
Solutions 11 – wave propagation Antennas and Propagation, Frühjahrssemester 2011

Path loss / Propagation close to earth

Problem 11.3 :
A base station transmits a power of 10 W into a feeder cable with a loss of 10 dB. The
transmit antenna has a gain of 12 dBd (dBd refers to a l / 2 dipole) in the direction of a
mobile receiver, with antenna gain 0 dBd and feeder loss 2 dB. The mobile receiver has a
sensitivity of –104 dBm.

a) Determine the maximum acceptable path loss.

b) Calculate the maximum range of the communication system, assuming h1 = 1.5 m,
h2 = 30 m, f = 900 MHz and that propagation takes place over a plane earth.
c) How does this range change if the base station height is doubled?

Quantity Value in Value in

original units consistent units

PT : transmitted power 10 W 10 dBW

GT : gain of transmitting antenna 12 dBd 14.15 dBi

GR : gain of receiving antenna 0 dBd 2.15 dBi

PR : received power –104 dBm –134 dBW

LT : transmitter feeder loss 10 dB 10 dB

LR : receiver feeder loss 2 dB 2 dB

a)
The acceptable path loss is

L = PT ,dB + GT ,dB + GR,dB - PR,dB - LT ,dB - LR,dB = 148.3 dB

b)
r4
The plane earth loss is given by LPEL » = 148.3 dB . Therefore, r = 34 km .
h12 h22

c)
Doubling one heigt reduces the plain earth loss by a factor of four. The distance
inceases by the fourth root of this ratio, thus, by a factor of 1.41. Therefore,
r = 48 km .
Solutions 11 – wave propagation Antennas and Propagation, Frühjahrssemester 2011

Link budget

Problem 11.4 :
At one time, a system for global mobile telephony was suggested where the users
communicate to and from different satellites. In this case, 66 satellites were to be placed
180 km over the earth and have a maximum dimension of 12 m × 12 m × 6 m. Assume that
the mobile telephone antenna is linearly polarized and with a maximum gain of 1.5 dB, the
mobile transmit power is 1 W, the attenuation in the atmosphere is 3 dB and the frequency
1.8 GHz.

a) Determine the required antenna gain of a circularly polarized satellite antenna if the
received power at the satellite must be at least 100 pW.
b) What approximate area does this gain correspond to?

a)
The power level of the transmission channel can be described with the following
formula:

æ Pr ö÷
ç = Gt,dB + FSLdB + AAtdB + PLFdB + Gr ,dB where
çè Pt ø÷dB

Pr : received power 100 pW

Pt : transmitted power 1W
Gt : gain of transmitting antenna unknown
Gr : gain of receiving antenna 1.5 dB
FSL : free space loss factor unknown
AAt : attenuation in the atmosphere –3 dB
PLF : polarization loss factor –3 dB

( ) ( 4lpr ) = -142.6 dB
2
l
FSLdB = 10 log10 = 20 log10
4pr

Therefore Gt ³ 46.5 dB

b)
Assuming no losses the approximate antenna size can be estimated by calculating the
maximum effective aperture of the antenna:

l2
Aem = D = 113.21m2 .
4p 0
Solutions 11 – wave propagation Antennas and Propagation, Frühjahrssemester 2011

Knife-edge diffraction / Fresnel zones

Problem 11.5 :
A microwave link working at 6 GHz is installed in the vicinity of an apartment house. The
antenna is installed at a height of 3 m and at a distance of 30 m from the house. The tenant of
the house measures on his balcony (3 m above ground) an electrical field strength which is 3
times higher than allowed by health regulations. A wall with a height of 1.9 m stands between
the house and the antenna at a distance of 10 m from the antenna. Assume that there are no
ground reflections and that the wall is thin and completely absorbing.

10 m 20 m

3m
3m

1.9 m

a) How much higher (approximate result 10% ) would be the field strength without the
wall standing there?
b) By how much has the wall to be heightened (approximate result 10% ) in order to
reduce the field strength on the balcony below the maximum value allowed by health
regulations?
c) During the process of heightening of the wall, a slight increase of the field strength
was noticed. For approximately which height could this be possible?

a)
Assume knife edge diffraction.
Use the Fresnel integral with its approximate formulas.
First calculate the diffraction parameter ν:

2 ( d1 + d2 )
n =h  -2.7 ,
ld1d2

where d1 = 10 m , d2 = 20 m , h = -1.1m and l = 0.5 m .

Going to the curve showing the knife-edge diffraction gain in function of the
diffraction parameter u , we see that for u = -2.7 the gain is about 0 dB (or slightly
but negligibly smaller than 0 dB). Therefore we can conclude that the field strength
without wall would be the same.
Solutions 11 – wave propagation Antennas and Propagation, Frühjahrssemester 2011

Knife-edge diffraction gain (dB)

0

-5

-10

-15
-3.5 -3 -2.5 -2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1

b)
The wall has to achieve an additional damping of: 20 log ( 13 ) = 9.54 dB
Going to the diffraction curve we can graphically see, that this corresponds to a
diffraction parameter u » 0.4 .

Alternatively we can solve the approximate formulas and we get

20 log ( 0.5e-0.95u ) = 9.54 dB = 20 log ( 13 )

and therefore u = 0.427 , which is a more accurate solution.

The height can now be calculated with

u u
h = = = 0.174 m
2 (d1 + d2 ) 6
ld1d2

This means that the wall has to be 17.4 cm higher than line of sight, though 3.17 m.
Consequently the wall has to be heightened by 1.27 m.

c)
Looking on the diffraction curve we see that the maximum occurs for u = -1.2 .
This corresponds to h = -0.49 which corresponds to a wall height of 2.51 m.
At this point, using a wall the power arriving at the house is be higher than without
the (absorbing) wall.
Solutions 11 – wave propagation Antennas and Propagation, Frühjahrssemester 2011

Knife-edge diffraction / Fresnel zones

Problem 11.6 :
The peak of a mountain ( P ) is located between a radio station (transmitter T ) and a listener
(receiver R ), holding a portable radio at a height of hR = 2 m. The radio station transmits on
a frequency of f = 100 MHz, and is positioned at a height hT = 90 m. The height of the
mountain is hP = 100 m. The ground distance between T and the mountain is dT = 300 m,
and between R and the mountain dR = 500 m.

Note: The mountain peak can be assumed to be thin and completely absorbing edge. There
are no ground reflections.

Mountain Peak P
T
h’ h

hP hT
R
hR

dT dR

a) Perform a geometrical simplification of the knife-edge problem. Calculate the height

h ' of the triangle TPR . Assume that h ' = h .
b) Which would be the maximum height hP ,max of peak P in order to have no
significant effect on the transmission (according to the Fresnel zone clearance rule of
thumb).
c) Calculate approximately the fraction of power that R is receiving in case a) compared
to b).

5
Knife-edge diffraction gain (dB)

0
-5
-10
-15
-20
-25
-30
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Parameter n
Solutions 11 – wave propagation Antennas and Propagation, Frühjahrssemester 2011

a)
P
T
h’ h

hT-hR hP-h-hR R
a
dT dR

After subtraction of the smallest height hR , the theorem of intersecting lines yields

hT - hR h - h - hR
tan a = = P
dT + dR dR

hT - hR
h ' » h = hP - hR - dR
dT + dR

(
= 100 - 2 - 500
90 - 2
300 + 500
m )
= 43 m

b)
The wavelength at f = 100 MHz is l = 3 m.

dRdT
The radius of the first Fresnel zone circle is r1 » l = 23.72 m.
dR + dT

Diffraction from the mountain can be neglected if  60% of the first Fresnel zone (in
terms of radius) is kept clear, i.e., v < -0.8 , i.e., h < -0.6r1 = -14.232 m
This means, that the mountain is allowed to have a maximum height of

hT - hR h - hR
hP ,max = h + hR + dR = -0.6r1 + hR + dR T
dT + dR dT + dR

(
= -14.232 + 2 + 500
90 - 2
300 + 500 )
m = 42.77 m

c)
In the case of 0b) the knife-edge diffraction can be neglected so that the knife-edge
gain is Ld ,b = 0 dB. For case a), the Fresnel-Kirchhoff diffraction parameter is

2 ( dR + dT ) 2 ⋅ 800
v =h = 43 = 2.56
ldT dR 3 ⋅ 300 ⋅ 500

Using the graph, the knife-edge gain in Error! Reference source not found. can be
determined. The diffraction gain is Ld ,a = -21 dB. Therefore, the fraction of the
power that is received by R is Pa / Pb = -21 dB.